So, yesterday I spent a good 6 or 7 hours at Boston’s Museum of Science. We went to see the Harry Potter™ Exhibit and ended up seeing 2 IMAX movies while we were waiting. Considering I haven’t been to an IMAX movie since I was a kid, I’ve been to a surprising amount in the past year. By my count, it’s at 4.
I’m not complaining, and in fact if you haven’t been to an IMAX feature at your local Omni Theater – go now! They’re fun.
However, I’m supposed to be writing about Antarctica so here it is.
Most IMAX films are rightfully targeted to children. They’re the most likely ones to be visiting the science museums, dragging their parents to see penguins & the like. What I enjoyed about IMAX Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature was that it was intellectual enough to keep my interest past the adorable penguins & seals.
Some highlights:
- A discussion of climate change (radical, I know).
- Footage demonstrating the perils of walking over hazardous ice “bridges” including images of an entire bulldozer swallowed up by Antarctica.
- Discussion of the earliest explorers including images of those that didn’t survive the return journey.
- Video of two divers swimming around INSIDE a glacier. Absolutely beautiful images showing the serene stillness and crystal clear water. Who would’ve thought the inside of a glacier had water and wasn’t solid ice?!
The film was done really nicely with a good balance of kid-friendly footage (seals and penguins, yo!) and unpolitical, hard-hitting journalism (cough … global warming … cough). If you can see the film, I’d suggest a viewing. It’s only 45 minutes and (at least at the Boston Museum of Science) only $4.50. Enough to make me feel like I was traveling.
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Useful Links:
>> Web site for the IMAX film
>> Boston Museum of Science
Description of the film from the IMAX site:
Antarctica follows man’s thirst for exploration to the highest, driest, windiest, coldest continent on Earth. Audiences will marvel as they take a harrowing helicopter ride through icy crevasses and towering pinnacles; dive with the first humans to swim through a crystalline cavern submerged within a glacier; drill through centuries-old ice to unlock the secrets of Antarctica’s past; and join a company of penguins in a graceful underwater ballet.
Go there! I had to work three jobs for one year and give up my treasured gym membership to save enough money to go, but every sacrifice I made was worth it. In reality it looks exactly the same as it does in the video. I have a few albums of pictures from my trip on Facebook. Let me know if you want to seem them. Also, here's a link to a little newspaper article about my trip: http://twitdoc.com/c/7eq5s6
Hope all is well,
Jackie Rose
I am letssitoutside on Twitter!
Thanks for the comment & link to the article, Jackie. Your story is absolutely amazing.
Six continents already? Incredible. And Australia's an easy (albeit expensive-to-get-to) one!
Thank you for the post!
I'm trying to decide if I want to get to my seventh continent before I turn 25 on Jan 9th, 2011…All depends on the job situation!
Seven continents before 25 would be an amazing feat, in my opinion. I've got a friend who has been trying to get to all 50 states before her 25th (which I think is 70% of her reason for coming to visit me in New England).
I don't have any travel milestones to hit by certain dates/deadlines, though I do have a list of places to eventually get to. For travel, I'll always make the time!
Nice one. I love IMAX films, and have since I was a kid, even though there are no screens close to where I live. Even now (adult/kid) I go out of my way to see them when I'm in a city with one.
I was set to go to Antarctica Nov 2009 but my trip with GAP fell through, so I'll give it another go this Dec. It'll be my 7th continent :)
Antarctica is on a lot of people's lists isn't it?
Also, IMAX rules! I think going as an adult just reminds me of how awesome they were when I was a kid. Not to mention that they're still pretty awesome.